fashion show – Ahuva’s Blog

Festivities and Fashion

It’s winter – for real. It snowed in RL last night. It’s still there this morning. That makes it winter. We had several friends over for warm winter dinner. We sat and shmoozed and it was wonderful. I’m so fortunate to have wonderful RL and SL friends. My SL friends are also getting me into a happy winter mood. I’m usually a summer beach gal, so getting me to enjoy winter is an arduous undertaking. 🙂

First was Honour. She was making a wreath in response to a friend’s request. She sent it to me for any comments. Oh right, like I am the person to critique Honour’s work. LOL. SHE teaches ME, remember???? *grin* Anyway, I fell in love with the wreath. So simple, elegant, just a touch of color. (Please note – “color”, not “colour”. ) As many of you know, I tend to be very rococco and ornate when left to my own devices. Yet I do really love simple lines. This wreath made me smile and immediately made me think of decorating for the season.

I’m not very experienced in decorating for the winter season. I’m VERY good at fall and summer. *grin* And I’m SUPERB for Superbowl parties. But winter? Hmmm. So it was lucky that was also the day Fricker Fraker gave away his adorable candy cane reindeer!!! OMG!!! It is so cute! I’m in love. I went out and decorated. I suspect I’m “supposed” to have more than reindeer and a wreath, but that sounds so wonderfully alliterative, doesn’t it? Notice that there is still no snow at MY house. But I suppose Bamboo, Mallory, Drake, Bill and I need to think about a season’s greeting card. Sigh, alas, poor Frenis. By the way – Fricker has launched a very cool blog – SL stuff (clothes, gadgets, guy things) for men: “Man on the Grid“. Check it out. I am having envy – I may have to create a male alt. *grin*

It wouldn’t be winter without a winter fashion show. I am actually JUST posting this in time. I am one of the model’s for Missy Lavecchia’s fashion show on Monday, Dec. 7, at 4pm SLT. As always, go to Michele’s blog for all the REAL details. But Missy has created some beautiful gowns. I got a sneak preview of the build last week. While Shenlei and Missy discussed details and such, I skated about the build, enjoying how easy and warm it is to skate in SL. *grin* I hope you come and see us all on Monday – the usual group of gorgeous, talented, fun models will be there. 🙂 Oh – and modest. *grin* We are modest as well. Missy’s gowns are gorgeous and I’m sure you have a few holiday parties on the calendar. Maybe we can convince Shen to leave the build up for a bit so we can all skate some more.

Tiffy’s Jewelry

I’m so glad that I am friends with Shenlei. We are both totally consumed by our work. Our work is our pleasure. *grin* So we do understand why the other one is always too tired and too busy to play. But we chat, we laugh. And Shen makes sure that I get a break from MY work by helping out in HER work. LOL. I got to model again for an FRI fashion show, The Purple Prose show featuring Eclectica Jewelry by Tiffy Vella. For all the details, check out Michele’s blog – she always has the good write-ups on these things. *grin* She has the details about the artist and product. But I, as you know, think life is all about ME, so my blog talks about what *I* see and do at these shows.

I had fun! Tiffy’s jewelry is lovely. I’ve now been here in SL for nearly 16 months. I’ve seen quite a bit of jewelry. I’m very happy that I get to model Tiffy’s products and get to KEEP what I model!!! Whoooeeee! I love the set I was modeling the other day – Herbal. (So appropriate it for me – is it not? Me who has become the official landscaper/gardener of her virtual office.) Herbal is simple but elegant. I know that often I like garish things, but not in my jewelry. For jewelry – I like elegance, style, class. Tiffy combines complexity and simplicity and creates beautiful, beautiful wearable art. I do hope you get a chance to stop her store, Eclectica, in Sinaburoe and and see her work for yourself.

As for the fashion show, they are always such fun!!! Here’s a litte insider-info: we models set up group chat and yak it up behind the scenes. *grin* Well, we’re not allowed to get up and move. Sometimes when a show is pulling a huge crowd, we don’t even like to cam too much. I don’t know about YOU, but lots of people do have issues with crashing when doing too much camming. So we talk and laugh and play that way during the hour or 90 minutes that we are posed and on view. It’s also a chance for me to get to see some friends that I only see when we model. Everyone is always so busy!!! 🙂 Way too much to do for work AND play. A fashion show is also a chance for me to reconnect with other friends. I mean – I can’t move for an hour or more. *grin* So I start looking at my Friends List to see who’s on, and I start IM’ing like mad. I got to talk with Krissy!!! We used to play all the time, then our schedules changed and we are rarely on at the same time. But there she was. I sent the taxi and she came and fell in love with Tiffy’s work also. That was an extra nice bonus – bringing together two friends. I think that I might have a chance to model again in a few weeks. I love the break from working and I love seeing friends. And I love the fun of being “on stage” in SL. Maybe next time I will remember to post in ADVANCE so that you all can come and play too!

Fusion Fashion

/me strikes haughty pose: Ahuva, Model. Yes, it’s that time again – Ahuva walks the runway. *grin* Oh – wait. This post isn’t supposed to be about me. It’s supposed to be about the fashion designers. /me rolls eyes. Okay. I’ll behave. But I’m stealing most of the text. *grin*

My good friend Shenlei Flasheart has been teaching a course this summer for new fashion designers. She has been working with three top-rate student interns, teaching them the ins and outs of the emerging field of virtual design and development. Her interns are currently matriculated at higher ed schools around the US, and log in from their geographically dispersed homes for weekly discussion, lecture and review sessions. I love this concept. I truly believe that more and more we will all be logging in from all over the world to meet and work in virtual worlds.

The summer interns have been working for the last three months using a virtual world as their low-cost, low-risk prototyping tool to develop their avatar apparel collections. Using FRI’s avatar apparel framework, they were guided through the design cycle from concept board, to selecting a color story, to developing a new piece every week. Their internship culminates with the fashion industry’s version of a final exam: namely a runway show where their work will be presented with live models, in a formal setting. Aha!! LIVE MODELS. *grin* That would include me. (Hey folks – this is MY blog!!) So……

Please join the Fashion Research Institute on Tuesday, August 25th at 6 pm SLT for a very special runway show, Fluid, showcasing the work of the Summer 2009 student interns!

FRI intern designers, Trinity Hartunian, Missy Lavecchia, and Palette Schuttelanz, are senior design students from fashion design schools around the US. Trinity’s label is Category Five, and her collection “Linear” is clean and sleek and can be easily mixed and matched. Missy’s label is Bella Fantasique, and she designs formal and evening wear from demure to the minx. Palette’s label is Mooged, and she is showing streetwear with an urban flair. Each of these ladies has invested many late nights and long hours learning how to develop avatar apparel, and FRI is very excited about their work and their future abilities. Palette’s, Missy’s and Trinity’s work may all be found in the marketplace stores in Shengri La. These hot new talents are currently pricing their work at student rates, but the quality isn’t student quality.

So I expect to see you all there with us on Tuesday, August 25 at 6pm SLT. I will be there with Chestnut and Oura and Callipygian and Dz and many others. Come and see us strut our stuff in these hawt outfits. My favorite part??? Listening to how happy and excited the interns are as their work is modeled for the public for the first time. Come share their excitement and joy – it’s fun, it’s interesting and their pleasure will lift your spirits too. See you there!

We Knew them BEFORE They were Famous

Yes, we can say that in all honesty. 🙂 Because you and I have known them for months! I believe that my first fashion show was also Jare’s first SL fashion show. I’ve been wearing Misteria’s gorgeous *PDD* Feather Dress for months. I get compliments on it every time. Don’t forget the dancing fairies extravaganza – that was also Misteria. I have a Wollemia Sands suit and just saw her great runway show. *grin* I feel like a proud aunt. I watched these designers grow up and blossom and really expand into fabulous designers.

You can see them graduate and showcase their work. Here’s the invitation notecard from FRI:

Fashion Research Institute “Designing Dreams”
Graduation Fashion Installation for Designers in the Emerging Avatar Apparel Design Program
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Time: 7 am SLT
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shengri%20La/155/227/21

Join the designers and friends of the designers as we bid adieu to four of our fine designers who are graduating from the emerging avatar apparel program in the Shengri La Vintage Marketplace. Fashion Research Institute Marketplace designers Jare Capalini (Au V), Misteria Loon (Pas de Deux), Xand Nagy, (Kicks & Twirls), and Wollemia Sands (Bull & Bear Careerwear) each showcase two of their styles apiece in this special graduation installation, created to highlight the dreams they have designed while in the program. Please join us for this uniquely designed installation of fashion displayed artistically.

Designing Dreams is hosted and sponsored by the Fashion Research Institute, Inc. FRI is committed to assisting emerging avatar apparel designers to bring their brand to the next level through programs ranging from courses for aspiring professional designers to incubation and mentorship programs. For more information about FRI and its programs and activities, please visit http://shenlei.wordpress.com.

Work Hard, Play High

I feel as if I am working all the time. That somehow my work day has blended seamlessly into the rest of my life. Maybe that’s what happens when you work in virtual worlds. Certainly the two people I know who appear to log even more work hours than I do both work in virtual worlds. Shenlei and I used to have time to take 15 minutes and ride horses. Go shopping for gardens. Stake out lucky stumps. But lately….wow…. we are lucky if we have time to IM for any extended time. Pretty much the only way I get to see Shen is if I go and attend her work events. Monday night I and several friends attended her presentation on her new Avatar Apparel Design Program. I wish I had the time and the required skill-set to take this course. Maybe the next time it is offered my Gimp skills will be at a sufficient level. Of course, that still means I need to find time.

This Thursday there is a fashion show for the business professional within SL. There are a lot of people doing RL business within SL. Sometimes even in SL there is a need to respect RL social conventions, such as clothing and appearance. As more and more corporations are coming into SL to do business, the need for business wear grows. Let me quote from the publicity:
Bull & Bear Careerwear is a new line of sophisticated attire designed exclusively with the business professional in mind. B&B was conceived and launched by Wollemia Sands, an up-and-coming talented designer. “The Art of the Deal” fashion show will feature 20 B&B creations — 10 women’s outfits; 10 men’s outfits — that are finely-tailored and appeal to the discerning professional. “The Art of the Deal” is a collaborative undertaking between Wollemia Sands of Bull & Bear; Shenlei Winkler, CEO of the Fashion Research Institute, Inc.; Suzy Yue of Running Lady Productions (RLP); and, is hosted by Sigma-Aldrich.

This Saturday – treat yourself to some jewelry. (See – that Shenlei. She never stops working!!!!) “Twelve lovely ladies bedecked with opulent jewels in a darkly seductive set showcase the exceptional work of Fashion Research Institiute Marketplace designers Yoona Mayo (cocoon), Tiffy Vella (Eclectica), and Rosie Barthelmess (Sable Rose). Please join us for this unique fashion-meets-art installation of fashion displayed artistically.” I have to tell you – I saw this show being setup. My, my, my – those poses are HOT!!!! I played with each poseball and I STILL can’t decide which one I love the most. The jewelry is even BETTER than the poses. So get yourself there and treat yourself royally.

So if you work hard, you have to play hard. I decided that I needed to remind Shen of that fact. This weekend I dropped a present on her – a stress-breaker toy. I included a note that said the two of us NEEDED a break. *grin* After her presentation Monday, she rezzed it: a trampoline. LOL. We got on that silly trampoline and bounced up into the sky, over and over. Okay, I also went splat on the ground a few times as well but hey, that’s the beauty of SL – splat doesn’t really mean SPLAT! After bouncing for awhile, we relaxed on the lovely green professional looking couches. 🙂 Don’t we look like we’ve been sent to the principal’s office for misbehaving??? Anyway, we did manage to sneak in some fun, relax and laugh. Just what we needed. Just what we all need. So that’s my advice to you for today. Find a friend and share a moment to laugh. Yeah, there’s a lot of real bad news, stress, less-than-pleasant stuff around. I’m not denying it. Or even ignoring it. Life happens. But take a moment to catch some sunshine – find a friend and share a laugh.

Wishing you all a good day!